Jake Harper
It's important to know how long chicken lasts to avoid foodborne illnesses. The USDA recommends cooking chicken one to two days after purchase, even if the sell-by date is further out. Raw chicken should not be kept in the fridge for more than two days, according to the USDA, but some sources say three to four days is acceptable if within the use-by or sell-by date. Cooked chicken can be kept in the fridge for three to four days. Freezing chicken is a good option to prolong its life. When it comes to determining if chicken is safe to eat, smell and appearance are important factors. Rotten chicken has a strong, unpleasant odour and discolouration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Raw chicken shelf life in the fridge | 2-4 days |
| Cooked chicken shelf life in the fridge | 3-4 days |
| Raw chicken texture | Glossy, moist, slightly slippery |
| Raw chicken colour | Pink |
| Raw chicken fat colour | Bright white |
| Skin-on chicken skin colour | Creamy or yellow |
| Chicken colour when cooked | Opaque white |
| Chicken colour when spoiled | Yellow, brown, green or grey |
| Chicken smell when spoiled | Fishy, sour, rotten, acrid, foul, "funky" |
| Chicken texture when spoiled | Slimy |
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What You'll Learn
Raw chicken should be eaten within two days, per USDA guidelines
Raw chicken should be eaten within two days of purchase, according to USDA guidelines. This is because raw chicken can quickly start to form bacteria like E. coli, even when stored properly in the refrigerator. The USDA recommends cooking chicken one or two days after buying it, and not storing raw chicken in the fridge for longer than two days. This is a conservative estimate, and the chicken may still be edible a few days after the sell-by date, but there is a risk of deterioration in quality and food safety issues.
The sell-by, use-by, or freeze-by date on the package is usually set by the chicken producer as a guideline for optimal taste and can be as long as a week from the purchase date. However, it is not issued by a regulating body, and the primary goal of poultry brands is to entice retailers to buy their products. Therefore, consumers should be cautious and use their judgment when deciding whether to consume chicken past the sell-by date.
Some indicators of spoiled chicken include an unpleasant smell, a slimy texture, or discolouration. Rotten chicken will have a strong, foul odour, and the meat may appear yellow, brown, green, or grey. If the chicken has any of these characteristics, it is no longer safe to eat and should be discarded.
To extend the shelf life of raw chicken, it can be frozen. Properly packaged frozen raw chicken can maintain its quality for up to a year. However, for the best flavour, it is recommended to use cooked, frozen chicken within four months.
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Cooked chicken should be consumed within three to four days
The shelf life of cooked chicken is longer than that of raw chicken. While raw chicken should be cooked and consumed within one to two days of purchase, according to the USDA, cooked chicken can be safely stored in the refrigerator for three to four days.
It is important to note that these timelines are not set in stone and may vary depending on the initial quality of the chicken and the conditions under which it was stored. For instance, if the chicken was not properly refrigerated, it may spoil faster.
To ensure the safety of your cooked chicken, it is always a good idea to label and date the storage container. This way, you can keep track of how long the chicken has been stored and reduce the risk of consuming spoiled food.
Additionally, it is crucial to inspect the chicken for any signs of spoilage before consuming it, even if it is within the recommended three- to four-day window. Spoiled chicken may exhibit several warning signs, including changes in texture, colour, and odour. A slimy film, discolouration (especially yellow, brown, or green), and a strong, foul odour are all indications that the chicken has gone bad and should be discarded.
By being vigilant about food safety and adhering to recommended storage practices, you can help ensure that your cooked chicken remains safe and enjoyable within the three- to four-day consumption timeframe.
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Chicken can be frozen to extend its shelf life
Chicken is a popular item to store in the freezer because fresh meat has a short window before spoiling if kept solely in the refrigerator. According to the USDA, raw chicken purchased at the store should be cooked or frozen one to two days after purchasing. If you can't meet those dates, pop the chicken in the freezer.
Freezing chicken is like pressing pause on the expiration date. For example, if you freeze chicken on January 1, and it "expires" on January 2, then if you thaw it on February 15, it won't "expire" until February 16. However, it's important to note that freezing doesn't stop enzymatic activity, so while the chicken may be safe to eat, it might have texture issues or not taste very good if frozen for too long.
For best flavor, use cooked, frozen chicken within four months. When properly packaged, frozen raw chicken maintains its quality for up to a year. A whole chicken or turkey can be kept in the freezer for up to one year, while chicken or turkey in pieces can be kept for up to nine months. Ground chicken or turkey is best consumed within three to four months if frozen from the date of purchase.
It's important to thaw frozen chicken properly in the fridge to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. To thaw chicken, place it in the refrigerator for 12 to 24 hours. To thaw chicken more quickly, place the package in a bowl or sink of cold water, ensuring the packaging doesn't leak and the chicken is fully submerged. Change the water every 30 minutes. This method takes about an hour to thaw one pound of boneless chicken.
Chicken that has been thawed should be used within one to two days. Freezer burn does not make chicken unsafe to eat but can affect the taste and texture. If chicken has grayish-brown leathery spots, it is freezer-burned, and these parts should be cut away after cooking.
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A sour or rotten egg-like smell indicates chicken has spoiled
It is generally advised not to consume chicken that is past its sell-by date. However, there may be instances where you need to determine whether the chicken is still edible. A simple way to do this is by performing a smell test. Fresh chicken has very little aroma, although it may have a slight "funky" odour if it has been sealed with its juices for a while. If the chicken emits a strong, sour, or rotten egg-like smell, it is no longer safe to eat.
Raw chicken that has gone bad may also exhibit changes in texture and colour. It should typically be glossy, moist, and slightly slippery. If it feels slimy and appears greyish instead of pink, it has spoiled. Similarly, cooked chicken that has turned from white to grey is no longer safe for consumption.
Salmonella enterica, a common cause of bacterial enterocolitis, releases hydrogen sulfide gas, which smells like rotten eggs. Therefore, if your chicken gives off this odour, it is best to discard it. However, it is important to note that the eggy smell may also be due to the gases used during packaging or the cryovac packaging process, which can be reduced by washing the chicken with vinegar or lemon juice.
To summarise, while a sour or rotten egg-like smell indicates that your chicken has spoiled, there are other signs of spoilage to look out for, including changes in texture and colour. It is always better to be cautious and avoid consuming chicken that exhibits any of these signs of spoilage to prevent foodborne illnesses.
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Slimy, discoloured, or odd-coloured chicken should be discarded
The shelf life of chicken depends on whether it is cooked or uncooked, and how it is stored. Uncooked chicken can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days. It can be frozen to last longer, but should not be kept in the freezer indefinitely. Cooked chicken should be consumed within three to four days. It can also be frozen, but for no more than four months.
Regardless of the storage method and duration, slimy, discoloured, or odd-coloured chicken should be discarded. Chicken that has turned slimy, sticky, tacky, or developed a residue is a sign of spoilage and should not be consumed. This is true for both raw and cooked chicken. Raw chicken should have a glossy, soft, and slightly slippery texture, and a light pink colour with white pieces of fat. If the colour has faded to grey, or turned green or yellow, it is past its prime and should be discarded.
Cooked chicken, on the other hand, should be firm and white, with no pink pieces of flesh. If cooked chicken has turned yellow, green, or grey, it is no longer safe to eat. Additionally, check for white spots or mould growth, which are signs of spoilage.
Other indicators of spoilage include an off odour, such as a fishy, sour, or sulphur-like smell, which is a warning sign that the chicken should not be consumed. It is important to trust your senses and discard the chicken if it looks or smells suspicious, even if it is within the recommended storage times. The saying "when in doubt, throw it out" is a good rule of thumb to follow when it comes to handling chicken.
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Frequently asked questions
It is generally advised to eat chicken within 3-4 days of purchase. However, some people say that the chicken can last up to 6-7 days in the fridge. If you're not going to use it immediately, it's best to portion it out and freeze it.
Fresh chicken has very little aroma, but it may smell slightly "funky" if it's been sealed with its juices for a while. Chicken that smells strongly, or has a fishy, sour, or sulfur-like odor, is no longer safe to eat. Raw chicken should feel glossy, moist, and slightly slippery.
When in doubt, it's best to err on the side of caution and throw the chicken out.
The USDA states that the use-by date is not an exact expiration date, but rather the date after which the chicken begins to lose its peak quality. You will have up to two days after the use-by date to use the chicken.
The best way to prolong the freshness of chicken is to freeze it. Frozen raw chicken can maintain its quality for up to a year when properly packaged.
